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Two bookmakers from the 1970s and 1980s told jurors that they were forced to pay Bulger “rent” for continuing to run their gambling rackets in Greater Boston and that he had a reputation for handing out beatings and killing those who did not follow his demands. James Katz, 72, was brought into the witness protection program when he first began cooperating with authorities in the 1990s. Richard O’Brien, 84, told jurors that Bulger had a reputation for murders and was capable of carrying out violence.

John Martorano, an admitted hit man, could take the stand and testify of Bulger’s history of alleged crimes, including murder, and his relationship with the FBI. Martorano has admitted to 20 murders, but he served only 12 years in prison after he agreed to cooperate with investigators. Martorano began working with prosecutors only after learning that Bulger and Stephen “The Rifleman” Flemmi had been FBI informants.